Completing Phase 1 of the Murphy Arts District, the new Farmer’s Market will open Saturday, while the children’s playscape will have a grand opening on May 19.
The Farmer’s Market will open Saturday with a ribbon cutting and cooking demonstration, and will be open from 8 a.m. to noon every Wednesday and Saturday from May through October. The market works with local vendors from El Dorado, Union County and the surrounding area and will be a “producer-only” market, only selling goods that are locally grown, raised or made. The market also hopes to work with the El Dorado School District to allow students to sell produce that they grow at school.
“Farmer’s markets are a win-win for small farms and for customers. Farmers get to connect and sell directly to customers while customers get high quality fresh products and get to know their farmers,” said Elizabeth Young, director of MAD Farm and Sustainable Initiatives.
According to a news release, Young is responsible for developing and managing the MAD Farmer’s Market and assisting with the development and management at the Griffin Restaurant’s farm-to-table initiative, which involves sourcing local food.
Patrons can expect a variety of products, including produce, meat, herbs, crafts, plants, canned goods and baked goods. Typically, store-bought produce travels an average of 1,200 miles before it makes it to the shelf. Farmer’s markets allow customers to buy fresh food from local sources, which Young says allows one to find food developed for flavor rather than transport.
“We’re so excited to take the Farmer’s Market to a new level with a new location and organization, and we hope people will show up for the fun, shop local supporting our farmers and vendors participating in the new market, and become part of the market community,” Young said.
The Farmer’s Market is located in the north pavilion in the Murphy Amphitheater at 105 E. Locust. They are still accepting vendors. For a copy of the vendor guidelines or an application, contact Young at [email protected] or 870-315-0380.
Throughout the summer, the Farmer’s Market will host events like cooking demonstrations, community cook-offs, tastings and musical guests. Adjacent to their children’s playscape, they will also hold events for children.
The playscape will open May 19, with a grand opening at 9 a.m. that day. With the opening of the playscape, MAD will have officially complete Phase 1 of its multimillion dollar project in downtown El Dorado.
According to a news release, it is the largest children’s destination outdoor playscape in the state, and will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to sunset, and is free. It is 2 acres of playground equipment, including slides, ropes, tunnels, ladders, a giant razorback slide and a zip line. It also includes a large splash pad with water coming from imitation pine trees and an oil derrick, as well as from water jets set in the ground, which will be open during the summer months, weather permitting. The area is securely fenced with a single entrance and has a building with changing rooms and bathrooms, as well as a concession area.
“We are excited about the playscape and have been looking forward to this opening since we first laid out the blueprints,” said Austin Barrow, president of Murphy Arts District. “The goal from the beginning has been to create something that all the families of greater El Dorado and the surrounding region could enjoy. My own kids can’t wait.”
The playscape will be available for rentals and birthday parties. Anyone interested should contact MAD’s hosted events staff.
The playscape will not allow pets, weapons, outside food and drink, smoking, bullying, outside chair or coolers, skateboards, scooters or bicycles.